Robicheck followed Chase down the hallway of the Institute, her sensible but fashionable shoes clicking on the cement floor as Chase skateboarded ahead of her. She stopped at the intersection of two hallways and waited for Dr. Robicheck to catch up. “When did you take this up?” Dr. Robicheck said, slightly out of breath. “A couple of months ago. It’s part of my new fearless self.” “Like the microwave experiment?” “Yes,” Chase said, seeing some of her writing students and smiling. She was trying to be less socially phobic. They stopped and stared at her, exhibiting the Asberger card for surprise. It was really shocked surprise, but there wasn’t an Asberger card for that. “Your new behavior seems to elicit shock,” Dr. Robicheck said. “Oh, I skateboard all the time. It’s hard for people to accost you because you travel quicker than they do, and they get out of your way.” “Then why were those women staring at you?” “I smiled at them. I don’t usually do that, but it’s part of the new me.”
